CIPS urges differentiation of digital service characteristics in child protection
Jakarta — The Centre for Indonesian Policy Studies (CIPS) has urged differentiation of digital service characteristics in the implementation of the Government Regulation on Electronic System Management in Child Protection (PP TUNAS).
“Without an approach that considers the differences in service characteristics, regulations risk being applied uniformly across a highly diverse landscape,” said Rasya Athalla Aaron, Research and Policy Associate at CIPS, in Jakarta on Monday.
Latest research by CIPS shows that PP TUNAS currently divides services into categories based only on low and high risk. However, each platform has varying exposures from different business models and interaction levels. For instance, social media focuses on content exchange and user-to-user social interaction, whilst online games involve in-application transactions and real-time communication.
These differences require differentiated risk recognition systems for each type of service. The lack of clear parameters is feared to make it difficult for businesses to conduct accurate risk recognition. Without definite indicators, digital companies cannot adjust appropriate protective features for their services.
Difficulties in risk recognition are viewed as potentially limiting internet access for users under 18 years of age. According to Central Bureau of Statistics data from 2024, this age group represents one in four internet users in Indonesia.
“Without a differentiated service characteristics approach, regulations risk limiting children’s right to access information and learn in digital spaces,” Rasya said.
“We also emphasise co-regulation as an important step to ensure PP TUNAS implementing rules are executed effectively,” Rasya added.
CIPS sees the need to strengthen digital literacy as a shared responsibility for children, parents, and educators so that digital spaces are utilised safely and productively. An approach overly focused on restriction risks reducing the benefits of digital spaces without substantially strengthening children’s resilience.
As part of a co-regulation system, digital companies could submit periodic reports to the public as part of transparency in implementing PP TUNAS. Rasya said such reports could include results from age verification systems to ensure users are in appropriate age groups, the effectiveness of parental control features in mitigating negative content on platforms, and digital literacy initiatives provided.